Floral Fringe Fair 2015

West Sussex was saying it with flowers for its annual Floral Fringe Fair. On the invitation of friends, we spent the last weekend of May in the county helping out at their vintage stall, with Knepp Castle as a most charming backdrop. Vintage cars and vintage dresses were de rigueur so I dressed for the occasion in my busily floral silk '30s dress, bought at Annie's Vintage in Islington's Camden Passage, a primrose-yellow '50s quilted bed jacket, and fabulously 'out-there' sunglasses from Paraphernalia. To shake it up were my vividly-coloured African beads, and a modern shaggy bag from The Dulwich Trader. Early in the day, my 1980s suede heels were swiftly replaced by  trusty Aigle boots. Last year, for this May event, I wore the '50s Hardy Amies floral suit.
Amongst this sea of green, there were pops of eye-catching colour, such as these graphic, stripy deckchairs - a favourite of my daughter's, who was also channelling the vintage vibe and mostly borrowed (from my wardrobe), especially the handmade reversible jacket from  Montreal.
All the vintage goodies photographed were sourced by Diane and Simon, of Cafe Murano in Hurstpierpoint, whose 'great food and great coffee' feature in Best of Sussex.
P.S. Been keeping a low profile recently in the whole blogging department, because it's the season of GCSEs. I may not be 16, but I definitely have nuclear fission sussed, and I could tell you a thing or two about the Middle Ages...

Keeping it green...

... as an apple and as fresh as the flowers, laid out like a feast, on a table at the newly-opened Fresh Flower Workshop, in East Dulwich. The former garage premises have been given a new lease of life by local independent, The Fresh Flower Company, in nearby North Cross Road. I'm wearing my favourite and most immaculate hand-me-down, an A-line linen coat from the '60s with one previous careful owner, my former mother-in-law! It's the weather for white jeans, by Grab, as well as mad-glad(iator) plastic sandals by Melissa - both items were purchased at Forest Hill boutique, Bunka. The green and white graphic retro-style shirt is by Ringspun Loves Rosy Cheeks; the floral brooch and necklaces are all vintage, together with the woven raffia bag.

Happy Mother's Day

 

A stroll along Bermondsey Street yesterday in the sunshine... and could not resist calling by the charming Cave London which sells flowers, wine and chocolate... spoilt for choice on Mother's Day! At the moment it is also showing colourful new paintings by Tom Leamon. I was in simple monochrome: black InWear skinnies, biker boots from Harrods, white T-shirt, some Chanel sunnies and a charcoal cardi from Nicole Farhi.

'Under leaves so green a happy blossom'

... plucked from 'The Blossom' by visionary poet, William Blake. Fine weather to be outdoors. Still snug in the Joseph tweed crombie-style coat, last seen at Somerset House, in 'Heed the tweed', but this time mixed in with some animals, not to be found running around a London park! The python-print cotton skinnies are by Ralph Lauren, the snake-skin ankle-boots from Pura López, and the vintage stingray bag was a star-purchase from Brockley store, Paraphernalia. Gucci sunnies are worn in the hope of deflecting a little sunlight. 
P.S. The other animals featured (playful dog and a brace of pigeons) are alive and well - and living in south London somewhere...